ED service has refused my referral

[HHH3]

Nearly 2 weeks ago I rang and self referred to mh services re my eating and they said they'd pass it on to the ed service. Rang again yesterday and for some reason it hadn't been sent so was sent that afternoon.

Spoke to the ed service today who said I don't quite meet their criteria and they only see people who are moderate to severe and instead were sending it to my old mh team. And that I'd be seen in the next 28 days. She did ask me some questions though and told me I'm underweight (I didn't think I was).

I have to admit I cried on the phone. It took so much guts to admit I have a problem and ask for help. And I really don't think I can wait another 28 days just to see someone for an initial appt.

I'm obviously not as bad as I thought though if I'm not even a moderate case. So maybe I've blown it all out of proportion. I'm gutted that I won't be getting the help I wanted but there are clearly people who need it more and I don't begrudge them that. I don't think I can keep asking for help though. I knew I had this window where I would be able to do it before things got so bad that I couldn't ask anymore. Guess I'm just going to have to get on with it on my own.

Hang on, you've been refered to your mental health team. This is good right? You will get some help?

It's shit they can't take you, the problem is not you, it's they have limited resources and too much demand, so sadly find themselves in this position,

Can you afford to go private?

Also in the next 28 days means within this period. It doesn't mean at 28 days, could you also speak to your gp again?

I’m sorry HHH3, its hard when you’re put yourself our there for help.
Can you acess any any other way?
You done such a brave thing asking for help x

I've never found the mh team to be particularly helpful. They got really hung up on me having psychotherapy when I was last under them. I was more than willing to but I just didn't get on with the therapist at all. I tried for ages but just couldn't make it work. So I was discharged from the mh team.

Not a chance I can afford to go private unfortunately. I know it's within 28 days but my experience with stuff like this is it never really happens within that timeframe. And last time once I'd had an initial assessment I then waited a couple more months for a mh worker (that time it was about my mh generally). I haven't seen the gp at all and don't really want to as I don't think there's much more that they can do.

As far as I can work out there's no other help available here. Apparently the ed team will work with the mh team so it's quite possible that the help will be good. It's the time it's going to take to get anything. And I think this way there's no specific therapy either.

It's just a massive kick in the teeth after finding the guts to ask for help.

Well done for trying to get help, that’s a massive step. I really don’t think you should wait for the MH team to contact you, I think you should insist on an emergency appointment with your gp and explain what you have on here, you can’t wait. You need to be really persistent and firm, so much easier said then done, but You can do it!!!

A lot of private therapists will offer a subsidy .

Go to your GP
Get yourself preferred the normal way

Referred

The ED team that work with my DD provide weight restoration and health checks only, therapy does not begin until a percentage weight is achieved and that will not always be within the ED team as they use outreach and general mental health services. Be careful the difference between where you are now and moderate can be small, speak to your GP and get a supporting referral as well.

Sorry - I completely forgot to update this!

I spoke to them again last week and they've agreed to do a joint assessment with them and the mh team. Then they'll decide who I should be under.

The assessment is next Thursday so not too much longer to wait. Which is good because things are getting worse and I'm starting to get to the stage where I'm unlikely to ask for help.